The Source Dilemma

Margo I. Seltzer

Harvard University

Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences

August 11, 1997

Outline

• Why we need source?
• Why Microsoft should want us to have source.
• The obstacles.

Why We Need Source

• Collect data
  • NT provides many good tools for data collection.
  • Frequently impossible to correlate data collected from different sources.
• Explain data
  • One often make hypotheses based on measurement.
  • Sometimes one can test hypotheses by further measurement.
  • Source code inspection often yields a quick and conclusive explanation.
• Confirm proposed solutions
  • Proposed fixes are "OK."
  • Demonstrably successful fixes are significantly better.

---

Why Source Access is Good

• Universities are a source of
  • good ideas
  • interesting code
  • bug fixes
• Students graduate well-versed in the vendor systems.
• Research results are directly relevant to the vendor.
• Vendors influence areas of research.
• Vendors enjoy a good, healthy reputation around the Universities.

---

Obstacles

• Who signs a license?
• NDAs for students.
  • What can they say/publish?
  • Do we need to get approval before submitting a paper?
• Liability.
  • We are not liable if they steal.
• Export Act constraints.